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SABBATH-SCHOOL LESSON QUARTERLY
world, for the world, because of sin, is condemned already. He
came to save from the condemnation of sin.
6.
"A question arose between them and the Jews as to
whether baptism availed to cleanse the soul from sin; they
maintained that the baptism of Jesus differed essentially from
that of John. Soon they were in dispute with Christ's dis-
ciples in regard to the form of words proper to use at baptism,
and finally as to the right of the latter to baptize at all."—
"Desire of Ages," page 178.
7.
"Though John's mission seemed about to close, it was
still possible for him to hinder the work of Christ. If he had
sympathized with himself, and expressed grief or disappointment
at being superceded, he would have sown the seeds of dissen-
sion, would have encouraged envy and jealousy, and would seri-
ously have impeded the progress of the Gospel. John had by
nature the faults and weaknesses common to humanity, but the
touch of divine love had transformed him. He dwelt in an
atmosphere uncontaminated with selfishness and ambition, and
far above the miasma of jealousy."—
Id., page 179.
8.
" 'He must increase.' His present success is but the be-
ginning of a most glorious and universal spread of righteous-
ness, peace, truth, and good will among men. 'I must decrease.'
My baptism and teaching, as pointing out the coming Messiah;
must cease; because the Messiah is now come, and has entered
publicly on the work of His glorious ministry."—
Clarke.
"He
must increase, but I must decrease," contains a great spiritual
lesson which should not be overlooked.
LESSON XI.— The Woman of Samaria.
JUNE 12, 1909.
LESSON SCRIPTURE:
John 4:1-42.
LESSON HELPS: "Desire of Ages," chapter 19; "Spirit
of Prophecy,"
-
Vol. 2, chapter 10.
PLACE: Shechem, or Sychar.
PERSONS: Jesus; John the Baptist; the woman of Samaria;
the disciples; the Samaritans, a mixed people, their religion a
mixture of the true and false. See 2 Kings 17:24-41.
NOTE: It was about this time that John was cast into prison,
as recorded in Luke 3:19, 20, for reproving Herod for marrying
Flerodias, his brother's wife. He was probably imprisoned in the
castle of Machaerus (the Greek name means, The Blaek For-
tress), east of the Dead Sea. Jesus went to Galilee on hearing
this, and on His way passed through Samaria.